Venezuela Gave Cash To Trump Inauguration As Three Shot Dead In Anti-Govt Protest

Venezuela has donated $500,000 to US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, newly released records show.

Citgo Petroleum, a US-based subsidiary of the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, is named in papers filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The revelation comes as the Venezuelan economy appears to be crippled by food shortages, violent crime and inflation.

Other major corporations named in the documents include Pepsi and Walmart, which gave $250,000 and $150,000 respectively, while owners of NFL teams or their companies gave more than $5m.

Casino owner and billionaire Sheldon Adelson also gave $5m.

Meanwhile, at least three people have been shot dead in Venezuela in protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

A teenager died in the capital Caracas and a woman was killed in San Cristobal, near the Colombian border.

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to demand new presidential elections and the release of jailed opposition politicians.

President Maduro has accused the opposition of attacking the police and looting shops, reports the BBC.

He said more than 30 arrests had been made. Supporters of the government are holding a rival rally in Caracas.

Despite having the world’s largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela has suffered for several years from high inflation, rampant crime and a shortage of basic goods.

The protests taking place across the country were expected to be the biggest in three years, putting extra pressure on President Maduro to negotiate with the opposition and find a way of easing the country’s economic crisis.